GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE won the Arab Blitz Chess Championship yesterday at the Mariott Hotel in Dubai. Salem scored 6 points out of 7 rounds in the field of 26 players from 13 countries.

Salem rampaged in the first five rounds beating compatriot GM Othman Mousa, FM Amro El Jawich of Lebanon, FM Rafat Issa of Jordan, IM Basheer Al Qudaimi of Yemen and GM Mohamed Haddouche of Algeria. Salem’s onslaught was halted by GM Bilel Bellahcene of Algetia who beat Salem in the penultimate round. The UAE bet bounched back in the finl round beating IM Amir Zaibi of Tunisia to finish alone for first place.

In the Arab Women’s Blitz Championship, WIM Sabrina Latreche of Algeria finished alone in first with 6 points out of 7 rounds in a field of 22 players from 10 countries. Visit chess-reesults.com for round by round results.

The tournament is organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The standard chess tournament is scheduled 5pm daily at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai.

Sheikh Saud Al Muala, President of the Arab Chess Federation, and Dr. Sarhan Al Muaini, President of the UAE Chess Federation, led the opening ceremonies with guest of honor.

GM Salem A.R. Saleh (seated left) won the Arab Blitz Chess Championship. Among the dignitaries starting the clock are, from left, Sheikh Saud Al Mualla, president of the Arab Chess Federation, Dr. Sarhan Al Muaini, president of the UAE Chess Federation and Saeed Abdul Ghaffar, General Secretary of the Youth and Sports Authority.